Polishes and method of making them



Patented yet, re, tees PfiLISHlES AND METEOR) @F MAKING THEM Helen E. Wassell, Pittsburgh, 1%., assignor to (Jarbide and Carbon Ehemieaie Eorporation, a corporation all New Yuri:

No Drawing. application @ctoher it, 1941, Serial Ne, tiifld'i 9 Claims.

This invention relates to self-lustering or bright-drying emulsion-type polishes containing wax in aqueous dispersion, and to methods of preparing them.

Aqueous dispersions adapted to serve as selflustering polishes usually contain a hard wax, such as carnauba wax, dispersed in water by the aid of a basic-reacting emulsifying agent. These self-lustering polishes are ordinarily prepared by first forming a molten wax mixture containing the melted wax and the emulsifying agent, and then adding boiling water to the molten wax mixture, although the wax mixture may also be introduced into the boiling water. In order that the wax may be uniformly distributed in the form of fine particles throughout the resultant product, the molten wax mixture and the boiling water are stirred to a degree adequate for intimate mixing while the wax is being thus dispersed in the water. However, when the principal ingredient of the self-lustering polishes are only the wax and the emulsifying agent in aqueous dispersion, films formed from the polishes may have a tendency to dry streakily. To diminish this tendency, various materials including shellac and other natural resins, fossil resins, and the like have been added to the polish, after the wax has been dispersed in water, for the purpose of improving the appearance of the dried films. Unless the dispersion of the wax in the water is always carried out under substantially identical conditions, the completed polish may also display variations from batch to batch in'certain of its characteristics, for instance, in the viscosity and translucency of the emulsion itself, and in the luster and the evenness of the dried films. These variations may be due, at least in part, to diiierences in the care and attention given to the dispersing of the wax in the water, particularly in cases where batches are prepared by difierent operators. Even though differences between films from various polishes, or batches of polishes, are not readily detectable except by comparison of the polishes, or their dried films, by special tests selected to emphasize these differences, such variations in quality are regarded asohiectionable to the extent that they may interfere with standardizing of a product on the basis of such characteristics viscosity, translueency and the like of thepolish, and evenness and luster or the film, or to require compensating deviatiens from routine procedures for the production of a standardized product.

have a highly surface (m. HUS-3) active wetting agent to the molten wax mixture, containing a basic-reacting emulsifying agent. the molten wax may be more quickly and easily dispersed in the boiling water to produce uniformly superior aqueous wax emulsions of relatively low viscosities. The polishes thus produced spread relatively evenly when applied to surfaces and, on drying, deposit lustrous films which are relatively free from objectionable streakiness.

In accordance with the present invention, the surface-active wetting agent is brought into admixturewith the melted wax before the wax is dispersed in the boiling water, and prior to the addition of any water to the wax, at least in any substantial amount. The surface-active wetting agent may be added to the melted wax, or to the molten wax mixture containing the emulsifyin agent. However, the surface-active wettin agent may first be mixed with the emulsifying agent and this mixture then added to the melted wax containing the fatty acid. For best results the surface-active wetting agent should be uniformly distributed by stirring or mixing the molten wax mixture, and thereafter the wax may be dispersed in water by introducing the water at its boiling temperature into the molten wax mixture. If desired, the molten wax mixture containing the surface-active wetting agent may be poured into boiling water, or the wax may be dispersed by other suitable manipulation.

A large number of surface-active wetting agents are useful in making the emulsion-type polishes in accordance with the present invention. For best results it is essential that the surface-active wetting agent be relatively stable in the presence of the basic-reacting emulsifyihg agent for the wax, particularly under the conditions encountered in making the polishes. I have found that such salts of oxysulfur organic compounds as are highly surface active and relawhich may be used with excellent results include salts of various sulfated higher fatty alcohols obtained from fats and oils of animal and vegetable origin, salts of the alkylated aryl sulfonates, and salts of the dialkyl esters of suliosuccinic acid such as, for example, thedioctyl ester and the dihexyl ester of sodium sulfosucclnic acid. Surface-active wettingagents which are'phosphated organic compounds are also contemplated. In general, good results may be obtained with surface-active wetting agents having from eight to twenty carbcn atoms to the molecule. Salts oi the sulfate ester derivatives of the sat rated branched-chain aliphatic alcohols are preferred, however, and exceptionally good results were obtained with those having eight toseven teen carbon atoms to the molecule.

The amount of suriace-active wetting agent used in accordance with the present invention is small in relation to theflnlshed polish, and the actual range of proportions required is dependent, among other things, upon the effectiveness of the particular surface-active wetting agent employed. In general, the amountoi surfaceactive wetting agent may be about 0.1 to 2s per cent of the total weight of the finished emulsion, but larger or smaller amounts may be used.

accuses vided state in the polish, it is usually desirable to add thebolling water relatively slowly at the start so as to permit the water to be incorporated uniformly throughout the viscous mass by stirring. I

Immediately upon introducing the boiling water into the molten wax mixture, to which has been added a small amount oi. nurlace-active .wettingagent in accordance with the present invention, there is produced a low-viscosltytype emulsion which is thin enough at all times for the water to be stirred in easily, regardless of the rate at which the boiling water isadded.

The self-lustcring polish thus produced is uniform whether the water is stirred into the wax mixture slowly or rapidly, or whether the molten wax mixture, containing the surface-active wetting agent, is stirred into the boiling water. However, if the boiling water is to be stirred into the molten wax mixture relatively slowly, less surface-active wetting agent may be used. than if the water is to be stirred in rapidly, in order to produce similar dispersions of the wax in water. The use of a suriace-active wetting agent in accordance with the present invention has the additional advantage in that a substantially shorter time is required to disperse the Based on the wax content of the polish, the

amount of surface-active wetting agent is preferably about 0.? to per cent by weight oi the wax. Usually with carnauba wax No. 3, less surface-active wetting agent is required as compared with the amount used in dispersing yellow carnauba wax No. l.

The basic-reacting emulsifying agents for the wax may be soaps formed from a higher fatty acid and a suitable amine. Suitable amine soaps or salts of higher fatty acids may be formed from a large number and variety of amine compounds of relatively low molecular weight containing hy= drogen, oxygen, basic nitrogen and from two to six and more carbon atoms to the molecule. Preferably the soaps are formed from amines such as diethylamino ethanol, morphollne, N- methyl morpholine, the ethanolainines, isopropanolamines or other allsylolarnlnes and the like in combination with a higher fatty acid includ ing, for example, olelc, palrnitic, stearic, rlcinoleic, linolelc or other fatty acid of the type obtained from oils or fats or vegetable or animal origin.

The most suitable waxes are the hard waxes,

such as carnauba; lt iixtures of carnauba with other natural and synthetic waxes may else be used, but as a rule softer waxes may be added or substituted in only limited amounts without adversely aflecting the luster or texture, or both, 02 the polish rilrn.v Candelilla wax, vegetable waxes which are at least fairly hard, beeswax and high melting hydrocarbon waxes may be used in place of carnauba wax in amounts of from about to per cent of the total wax to produce satisfactory polishes. However, the resulting polish films are usually a little softer than, or do not have the high luster of the straight carnauba wax polish flln.

When a seli-lustering polish is prepared by stirring the boiling water into the mixture of wax in the making of self-lustering polishes.

The dried films of the emulsion polishes thus produced are free from objectionable strealrlness and, in appearance, are more nearly even than dried films of otherwise similar emulsions made without the surface-acthre wetting agent.

In the case of self-lustering polishes of the socalled water-resistant type (that is, polishes adapted to deposit films which, on drying, are relatively resistant to spotting or removal oi the filmby water), the use of a surface-active wetting agent, in accordance with the present invention, does not result in any noticeable decrease inthe water-resistance of the dried film. How= ever, when a surface-active wetting agent is added to awater-resistant, self-lustering polish after the wax has been dispersed in water, the

water-resistance of the film is decreased and any substantial resultant improvement in the appearance of the dried film is obtained at the expense of water-resistance.

The carnauba wax was carefully melted in a steam jacketed kettle operated to maintain a temperature of about to C. to avoid overheating the wax. The oleic acid was added to the wax to hasten the melting. The morpholine and suriaceactive wetting agent were then added to the melted wax mixture, and the mixture stirred for about three minutes or until a clear solution was obtained. In this example the surface-active wetting agent used was an aqueous solution containing so per centby weight of sodium cctyi sulfate (mono-sodium sulfate ester derivative of 2-ethyl hexanol-l). The tcmperature of the hot wax mixture was about t? to Then the water, heated to 98 to ice" Q, was added quickly, all at one time, to the molten wax mixture containing 'the surface-active wetting agent. After stirring for several minutes, a

, aseaoes wetting agents to which a resin dispersion has also been added.

The foregoing examples are illustrative in nature of the method of using highly surfaceactive wetting agents or penetrants as an aid in dispersing wax in preparing selfdusterlng emulsion-type polishes, and the products are representative of other wax dispersions suitable for use as seli-lustering emulsion-type polishes within the scope of the present invention.

I claim: 7.

1. In the manufacture of a self-lustering, aqueous emulsion-type wax polish, the process of emulsifying the wax while maintaining a low viscosity of fluid during emulsiiication and avoiding the formation of an intermediate Water'im wax emulsion stage which includes forming a wax mixture containing a herd wax in a molten state, a basic-reacting emulsifying agent and arela tively small amount of a highly surface-active wetting agent which is stable in the presence of the emulsifying agent and favors the dispersion of the wax' in water directly upon the addition of water, while preventing the formation of a.

water-in-wax emulsion, said wetting agent being a suliated aliphatic alcohol. having at least 8 carbon atoms to the molecule and said wait min ture being formed prior to the addition of water to the wax in an amount sumcient for dispersion of the wax therein; and thereafter bringing said i wax into admixture with. an amount of water greater than the amount oi was: by weight and intimately stirring the and the water to disperse the wax therein the first time from said wax mixture and in presence of said wetting agent.

2. in the manufacture of a seii-iustering, aqueous emulsion-type was; polish, the process of emulsifying the wax while maintaining a low viscosity of fluid during crnulsii'lcation and avoiding the formation of an intermediate water-imwaii emulsion stage which includes, forming a wax mixture containing a hard wax in a molten state, a basic-reacting emulsiiying agent having as ingredient thereof a soap which is a salt of a higher fatty acid, and a relatively small amount of a highly surface=active wetting agent which is stable in the presence of the emulsifying agent and favors the dispersion of the wax water directly upon the addition of water while preventing the formation of a water-loaves; emulsion. said wetting agent being a enlisted aliphatic ahcohol having at least 8 carbon atoms to the pinion cule and said wax mixture being formed prior to the addition of water to the was in an amount sumcient for dispersion of the wax therein; and thereafter bringing said was; into admixture with an. amount of water greater than the amount of wax by weight and. intimately stirring the wax and the water to disperse the wax therein for the first time from said wax ininture and in the presence of said wetting agent, said small amount of wetting agent being about to 2.0 per cent by weight of the resultant aqueous dispersion.

3. in the manufacture of a self-metering, argue ous emulsion-type wax polish, the process of emulsifying the wax while maintaining a low viscosity oi fluid during emulsification and. avoiding the formation of an intermediate water-in-wax ernn1- sion stage which includes forming a wax mixture containing a hard wait in a molten state, a basic reacting emulsifying agent having as an ingredlent thereof a soap which is a salt of a higher fatty acid and a relatively small amount oi a hi surface-active wetting agent which is iii Eli

Elli;

Fill

stable in the presence of the emulsifying scent and favors the dispersion of the wax in water directly upon addition of water while preventing the formation of a water-in-wax emulsion, said wetting agent being a sulfated aliphatic alcohol having from eight to twenty carbon atoms to the molecule and said wax mixture being formed prior to the addition of water to the wax in an amount sufilcient for dispersion of the wax therein; and thereafter bringing said Wax into admixture with an amount of water greater than the amount of wax by weight and intimately stirring the wax and the water to disperse the wax therein for the first time from said wax mixture and in the presence of said wetting agent, said small amount of wetting agent being about 0.1 to 2.0 per cent by weight of the resultant aqueous dispersion.

l. In the manufacture of a selflustering, aqueous emulsion-type wax polish, the process of emulsifying the wax while maintaining a low viscosity of fluid during emulsification and avoidmg the formation of an intermediate water-inwax emulsion stage which includes forming a wax mixture containing a hard wax in a molten state, a basic reacting emulsifying agent having as an ingredient thereof a soap which is a salt of a higher fatty acid and a relatively small amount of a highly surface-active wetting agent which is a salt of a higher aliphatic alcohol sulfate, said salt being stable in the presence of the emulsilying agent and favoring the dispersion of the wax. in water directly upon addition of water while preventing the formation of a water-inwax emulsion, said wax mixture being formed prior to the addition of Water to the wax in an amount sufficient for dispersion of the wax therein; and thereafter bringing said wax into admin ture with an amount of water greater than the amount of Wax by weight and intimately stirring a the wax and the water to disperse the wax therein for the first time from said was; mixture and in the presence of said wetting agent, said small amount of wetting agent being about 0.1 to 2.0 per cent by weight of the resultant aqueous dispersion 5. in the manufacture of a self-lustering, aqueous emulsion-type wax polish, the process of emulsifying the wax while maintaining a. low viscosity oi fluid during emulsification and avoiding the formation of an intermediate water-inwax emulsion stage which includes forming a wax mixture containing a hard wax in a molten a basic-reacting emulsifying agent having an ingredient thereof a soap which is a salt of a higher fatty acid and a relatively small amount of a highly surface-active wetting agent which is an alleali metal salt of a higher aliphatic alcohol sulfate, said salt being stable in the presence of the emulsifying agent and favoring the dispersion of the wax in water directly upon addition of water while preventing the formation of a waterin wan emulsion, said wax mixture being formed prior to the addition of water to the wax in an amount suficient for dispersion of the Wax therein; and. thereafter bringing said wax into admixture with an amount of water greater than the amount of wax by weight and intimately stirring the wax and the water to disperse the wax therein for the first time from said wax mixture and in the presence of said wetting agent, said. small amount of wetting agent being about 0.1 to 2.0 per cent by weight of the resultant aqueous dispersicn.

6. In the manufacture of a self-lustering, aqueous emulsion-type wax polish, the process of having at least eight carbon atoms to the molecule, said salt being stable in the presence of the emulsifying agent and favoring the dispersion of the wax inwater directly upon addition of water while preventing the formation of a water-in -wax emulsion, said wax mixture being formed prior to the addition of water to the wax in an amount sumcient for dispersion of the wax therein; and. thereafter bringing said wax into admixture with an amount of water greater than the amount of wax, by weight, and intimately stirring the wax and the water to disperse the wax therein for the first time from said wax mixture and in the presence of said wetting agent, said small amount of wetting agent being about 0.1 to 2.0 per cent by weight of the resultant aqueous dispersion.

7. In-the manufacture of a self .ustering, aqueous emulsion-type wax polish, the process of emulsifying the wax while maintaining a low vis= cosity of fluid during emulsification and avoiding the formation of an intermediate water-in-wax emulsion stage which includes forming a wax mixture containing a hard wax in a molten state, a basic-reacting emulsifying agent having as an ingredient thereof a soap formed from a higher fatty acid and a relatively low molecular weight compound containing hydrogen, oxygen, basic nitrogen and not less than two carbon atoms to the molecule, and a relatively small amount of a highly surface-active wetting agent which is a salt of a sulfate ester of an aliphatic alcohol having at leasteight carbon atoms to the molecule, said salt being stable in the presence of the emulsifying agent and favoring the dispersion of the wax in water directly upon the addition of water, while preventing the formation of a waterin-wax emulsion, said wax mixture being formed prior to the addition of water to the wax in an amount sufficient for dispersion of the war: therein; and thereafter bringing said wax into admixture with an amount of water greater than the amount of wax by weight and intimately stirring the wax and the water to disperse the was. therein for the first time from said wax mixture and in the presence of said wetting agent, said small amount of wetting agent being about at to 253 per cent by weight of the resultant aqueous dispersion.

8. in the manufacture of a self-lustering, aque ous emulsion type wax polish, the process of aaaaoao emulsifying the wax while maintaining a low viscosity and avoiding the formation of an in= termediate water in-wax emulsion stage which includes forming a wax mixture containing a hard wax, a basic-reacting emulsifying agent having as an ingredient thereof a soap formed from a higher fatty acid and a compound containing hydrogen, oxygen, basic nitrogen and from two to six carbon atoms to the molecule and a relatively small amount of a highly surface-active wetting agent which is an alkali metal salt of a sulfate ester of a branched chain secondary aliphatic alcoholhaving from eight to twenty carbon atoms to till the molecule, said salt being stable in the presence of the emulsifying agent and favoring the dispersion of the wax in water directly upon the addition of water while preventing the formation of a water-in-wax emulsion, said wax mixture being formed prior to the addition of water to the wax in an amount suiicient for dispersion of the wax therein; and thereafter bringing said wax into admixture with an amount of water greater than the amount of wax by weight and inti: mately stirring the wax and the water to disperse the wax therein for the first time from said wax mixture and in the presence of said wetting agent, said small amount of wetting agent being about 0.1 to 2.0 per cent by Weight of the resultant aqueous dispersion.

9. In the manufacture of a self-lustering, aqueous emulsion-type wax polish, the process of emulsifying the wax while maintaining a low vis= cosity and avoiding the formation of an intermediate water-in-wax emulsion stage which includes forming a wax mixture containing a hard wax, a basic-reacting emulsifying agent, having as an ingredient thereof a soap formed from a higher fatty acid and a compound containing hy-- drogen, oxygen, basic nitrogen and from two to six carbon atoms to the molecule and a rela- .tively small amount of a highly surface-active wetting agent which is an alkali metal salt of a sulfate ester of a branched chain aliphatic alcohol having from fourteen to seventeen carbon atoms to the molecule, said salt being stable in the presence of the emulsifying agent and favoring the dispersion of the wax in water directly upon the addition of water while preventing the formation of a water-ln-wax emulsion, said wax mixture being formed prior to the addition of water to the wax in an amount suficient for dispersion or" the wax therein; and thereafter bringing said was into admixture with an amount or water greater than the amount of wax by weight and intimately stirring the wax and the water to disperse the wax therein for the first time from said was: mixture and in the presence of said wetting agent, said small amount of wetting agent being about 0.1 to 2.6 per cent by weight of the resultant aqueous dispersion. 

